Auxiliary apparatus for steam generators



June 2", 1931. A. w. BRUCE AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR STEAM GENERATORSFiled Aug. 15, 1929 ndFT ed W. Bruce %4%@ R EY Patented June 23, 1 931UN TEDj j sTATE-s ALFRED EUcE, OF NEW Yonx, N. Y. I

PATENT OFFWE AUXILIARY Arr LA'rUs FOR STEAM GENERATORS Applicationfi1e'd August 13,1929. Serial No. 385,659.

adapted for use with high pressurejsteam.

nomically manuactured and maintained, and

which is highlyeflicient in. Operation.

Another object of the'invention is to provide acom'bined economizer andsuperheater, of simple, economical and compact construc tion, and ofhigh efliciency in operation. Otherobjects of the invention willhereinafter readily appear. a

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1' is a side elevation withportionsbroken away of a combined economizer and superheater embodying theinvention ;'Fig. 2, a fragmentary, end view of the construction shown inF ig. 1, two of the vertical rows .of economizer and superheatertubesbeing shown; .Fig. 3, a fragmentary view in horizontal sectiontaken on theline IIIIII', of'Fig.'.1; and,

Fig. 4, a fragmentary view, partlyin hori-,

zontal sectiontaken on the line IVJ-IV of Fig. 1.

In the practice of the-invention referring descriptively to the specificembodiment iments are dlvlsions of larger units.

thereof which has been selected for exemplification herein, theeconomizer comprises a plurality of superposed longitudinal water tubes10, arranged in parallel vertical rows.

The tubes of each row are connected at one end in pairs by return bends10a. At the other end the lower tubeofthe bottom-pair is connected to aheader compartment 11, the upper tube of that pair is connected to' aheader compartment 11a, 'to which compartmentthe lowertube of the nextsuperposed pair: is also connected. This general arrangement is followedthroughout eachof the vertical rows. Each water tube 10, has.concentrically extending therethrough, a fire tube '12. Thus awaterspace 13,.circular' in cross-section isprovidedbetween each watertube and each 11, of each row is connected to a separate infire tube.Thelower header compartment talce pipe 14, which may be connected toasultable common header, not shown, or if deslred to an individual feedpump}, Also if sure efficient blowing-oil" of the tubes. The

top header of each row is connected to a dis-- charge pipe, 15, whichcommunicates with a desired a separate valve may be providedfor 'closlngoff any of the intake pipes 14, to incommon header 16. A separate valve17 is provided at the header 16, for each of. the

discharge pipes 15, so that the tubes of any :desired rows may be closedoff selectively to facilitate efficient blowing-off. v r

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious thatwater circulatesthrough all of the water tubes 10, of each row in a continuous pathleading from the lowermost Water tube of each row through theuppermosttube 7 thereof."

It is to be noted that each of the superposed pairs of water tubes ismade of shorter length than the pair next below so that at the returnbend end of the economizer, the pairs of tubes of each row are steppedto provide; for economy of space for the application of the superheatertubes. header compartments 11a, is formed as a separate unit adapted toconnect two superposed pipes of different pairs, it is within thecontemplation of the invention to utilize constructions wherein theheader compart- Hollow cylindrical fittings. are screw threaded in theheaders 11 and 11a, one for each fire tube. These fittings serve to sealthe headers so as to permit thepassage of the fire escape of thecirculating header 18, which may be formed with the While each of theusual saturated and superheated steam compartments; and a plurality ofsteam circulation tubes 18a. p It is to be noted. that the verticalreaches 7 18b and of the respective steam circula- I tion tube units aremade I progressively shorter, those leading to the bottom fire tubesbeing the longest, and those leading tothe top fire tubesbeing theshortest. This form of superheater tubes in conj unction' with theprogressively shortened tubes of the economizer, provides a compactconstruction effecting a considerable saving of space in the locomotivesuperstructure.

IVhile one of the preferred forms of construction has been described andshown, it is obvious that many variations in procedure, form,arrangement, and construction of parts, may be resorted to, and theinvention, therefore, is not limited to the particular embodimentdisclosed, but includes such "changes and modifications as come Withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed and desired 'to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed water tubes arranged in verticalrows, the tubes of each row being connected at their rear ends in pairsby separate, spaced, return bends to permit the flow of combustive gasesloi-igitudinally between said tubes, means for connecting the oppositeends of the tubes to permit the circulation of Water therethrough, and aplurality of fire tubes each passing through one 7 of the water tubes.

2. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed longitudinal Water tubes arrangedin vertical rows, the tubes of each row being connected forcommunication at their rear ends by separate, spaced,.couplings topermit the flow of combustive gases longitudinally between said tubes,header compartments at the other end of the tubes,

each compartment coupling for communica-.

tion one tube of one pair with one tube of another pair, and a pluralityof fire tubes, each passing through one of the water tubes.

8. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of aneconomizercomprising a plurality of superposed longitudinal. Watertubes, arranged in vertical rows, the tubes of each row being connectedat their rear endsin pairs by separate, spaced, return bends to permitthe flow of combustive gases longitudinally between said tubes, headercompartments at the other end of the tubes, each compartment couplingfor communication one tube of one pair with one tube of another pair,and a pluralityot fire tubes, each passing through one of the Watertubes.

4. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed longitudinal Water tubes arrangedin rows With the tubes of each row connected at their rear ends in pairsby separate, spaced, return bends to permit the flow ot combustive gaseslongitudinally be tween said tubes, means tor connecting the.

opposite ends of the tubes to permit the circulation of Watertherethrough, and a plurality of [ire tubes each passing through oneculation of Water therethrough, and a plurality of'fire tubes, eachdisposed substantially concentric .of and passing tlllOIlghOIlG of theWater tubes, and a superheater comprising a header and a plurality ofsteam circulation tubes eXtendingi-nto'the .fire tubes of theeconomizer.

6. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of .an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed water tubes arranged in verticalrows, the tubes ofeaeh row being connected at their rear ends in pairsby sepa rate, spaced, return bends to permit the Files of combustivegases longitudinally between said tubes, means for-connecting theopposite ends of the tubes .to permit the circulationrof Watertherethrough, and a plurality of fire tubes each passing through oneofthe Water tubes; and a superheater eomprisinga header and a pluralityof steam circulation tubes extending into the fire tubes of theeconomizer.

7. In an apparatus for locomotives. the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed longitudinal Water tubes arrangedin vertical rows, the tubesro'f each row being connected at their rearends in pairs by separate spaced, return bends to permit the flow ofcombustive-gases longitudinally between said tubes. header compartmentsat ithe other end of thetubes, each -eachrow being connected at theirrear ends in pairs by separate, spaced, return bends to permit the flowof combustive gases longitudinally between said tubes, headercompartments at the other end of the tu-bes,'each compartment couplingfor communication one tube of one pair With one tube of another pair,and a plurality V of fire tubes, each passing through one of the Watertubes; and a superheater comprising a header and a plurality of steamcirculation tubes: extending into the fire tubes of the economizer.

9. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed water tubes arranged in verticalrows, the tubes of each row being connected at one end in pairs byreturn bends, means for connecting the opposite ends of the tubes topermit the circulation of Water therethrough, and a plurality of firetubes each passing through one of the made successively shorter; and ercomprising a header and a plurality of steam circulation tubes, eachformed with an upstanding portion adjacent the header, and a portionextending into a fire tube of the a superheat economizer.

10. In an apparatus for locomotives, the combination of an economizercomprising a plurality of superposed water tubes arranged in verticalrows, the tubes of each row ing connected at one end in pairs by returnbends, means for connecting the opposite ends of the tubes to permit thecirculation of Water therethrough, and a plurality of fire tubes eachpassing through one of the water tubes, the pairs of Water tubes at oneend being made successively shorter; and a superheater comprising aheader and a plurality of steam circulation tubes, each formed with anupstanding reach, a reach leading into one of the fire tubes, a returnbend Within the fire tube, a reach leading out of the fire tube, areturn bend leading to a second fire tube, a reach leading into thatfire tube, a return bend Within the second ing out of the second firetube, and a second upstanding reach leading to the header.

11. I combination of an economizer comprising a plurality of superposedlongitudinal water tubes arranged in rowsiwith the tubes of each rowconnected at their rear ends lnpairs by V 7 separate, spaced, returnbends to flowof combustivegases longitudinally betweensaid tubes, meansfor connecting the opposite ends of the tubes to permit the circulationof Water therethrough, and a plupermit the rality of fire tubes eachpassing through one of the Water tubes.

ALFRED W. BRUCE.

water tubes, w the pairs of Water tubes at one end being fire tube,areach lead-' 11 an apparatus forlocomotives, the

